The incident reportedly occurred on July 14 at Alufele in Enjema District, where the miners were trapped underground after the mine collapsed during working hours.
Senator Isah Jibrin, representing Kogi East Senatorial District, confirmed the incident during plenary on Wednesday, July 22, while calling on the Senate to take urgent measures to protect workers at mining sites across the country.
Raising a motion of urgent public importance, Jibrin said the disaster highlighted the serious safety, environmental and humanitarian consequences of artisanal and small-scale coal mining in Ankpa and other coal-producing communities in Kogi State.
He attributed the rising risk of mine collapses to unsafe mining methods, particularly the widespread use of the room-and-pillar technique without adequate structural reinforcement.
Following contributions from lawmakers, the Senate resolved that Nigeria's mining safety regime required urgent reform, warning that weak regulations, unsafe practices and inadequate worker protection had turned several mining sites into death traps.
The lawmakers said the recurring fatalities in the solid minerals sector underscored the need for stricter enforcement of mining regulations, improved safety standards and stronger protection for workers.
The Senate also noted that coal-rich communities including Enjema, Okaba and Ikah, located within the Ankpa Coal Block of the Anambra Basin, are situated on unstable geological formations that are vulnerable to landslides, subsidence and other forms of ground failure.
Lawmakers further expressed concern over the poor welfare of mining workers, many of whom reportedly operate without formal employment contracts, health insurance, life insurance or occupational hazard protection.
They noted that the absence of adequate protection often leaves families of deceased miners without compensation or social support following fatal accidents.
The Senate also raised concerns over the environmental impact of poorly regulated mining activities, including the destruction of farmlands and threats to the livelihoods of host communities, at a time when the Federal Government is promoting the solid minerals sector as a key component of economic diversification.
To prevent further disasters, the lawmakers urged the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to conduct a comprehensive nationwide audit of licensed mining operators and strengthen regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with safety standards.
The Senate also called for the establishment of a statutory Mining Workers' Compensation Scheme and a Mine Rehabilitation and Victims Support Fund to provide financial assistance to victims and support communities affected by mining activities.
It further urged the National Insurance Commission to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to introduce compulsory occupational accident insurance for all categories of miners across the country.
The relevant Senate committees were directed to engage with appropriate government agencies and report back to the chamber within six weeks on the implementation of the resolutions.
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